No baskets in OT costly for Swedes

The Gothenburg boys basketball team committed 21 turnovers in a 51-47 overtime loss against a good, physical Chase County Longhorns team Friday.

The game was tight from start to finish with no significant runs by either team, head coach Roger Koehler said, but the team had some tough breaks and competed hard.

“I’m happy with how we played. They were a good team,” Koehler said. “We didn’t shoot overly well and were a little shorthanded. We had some people step up for us.”

Chase County is known to score a lot of points at home, but after the first quarter break the Swedes had the game tied at 8-8.

Patrick Messersmith knocked down a three-pointer that broke a second-quarter scoring lapse and got the Swedes back on track before going into halftime with a 22-21 lead.

“Pat got some nice looks and shot the ball with confidence,” Koehler said. “I am pleased with what he did for us against Chase County.”

The teams continued to go back and forth in the second half with neither offense extending a lead. Both the Swedes and the Longhorns scored nine points in third quarter with Gothenburg holding on to its one-point margin, 31-30.

The Swedes had their opportunities to win the game in the fourth quarter, Koehler said, but shooting 5-11 from the free throw line didn’t get the job done.

Koehler added that at one point in the fourth he called a timeout and two freshman, a sophomore, a junior and a senior were on the floor.

Chase County outscored Gothenburg 12-11, tying the game and sending the contest into overtime.

“We were positive and had a good mindset heading into overtime,” Koehler said. “Unfortunately we didn’t score any baskets.”

Gothenburg went 5-8 from the free throw line while Chase County made five free shots as well, along with two buckets to earn a four-point victory.

Despite Gothenburg’s two losses last week, Koehler and the players feel they are getting close to where they want to be.

“We have to finish games. If we do that, we will end up on the positive side of the win-loss column,” he said.

Gothenburg has to finish against Broken Bow Friday. The Indians return four starters from last season and have been playing well.

Reserves fall to Longhorns

Gothenburg had double-digit scoring in three quarters, but a three-point second period may have been the reason Chase County beat the Swede reserves 47-44.

Patrick Messersmith knocked down five three-point baskets to lead Gothenburg with 15 points.

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